The ballot for two upcoming city elections will include several incumbents vying for another term and a number of new candidates hoping to be elected to their first terms.
In the Ellijay mayor’s race, incumbent mayor Al Hoyle will be challenged by current mayor pro tem and councilmember Sandy Ott. Both qualified before press time for last week’s newspaper. No other Ellijay mayoral candidates qualified after press time either late Tuesday or on Wednesday.
It will be the first time Hoyle has faced opposition in the mayor’s race since 2015. With entering the race for mayor, Ott was not able to run for another city council term. Her council term is up at the end of the year.
In the East Ellijay mayor’s race, Thomas Ocobock qualified after press time last week, while incumbent Mayor Don Callihan qualified before press time.
It will be the first time running for mayor not only for Ocobock, a former Gilmer school board member, but also Callihan. Formerly East Ellijay’s mayor pro tem, Callihan was appointed to fill the remaining mayoral term of Mack West, who passed away in February.
Qualifying for the Ellijay City Council race after press time last week were Jeff Dill and Claudia Penland. Qualifying before press time were Thomas Griffith and incumbent councilmembers Tom Crawford, Al Fuller and Kevin Pritchett.
Qualifying for the East Ellijay City Council race after press time last week were Cynthia Musselwhite and incumbent councilmember Chris Callihan. Qualifying before press time were Veronica Kincaid and incumbent councilmembers Ed Forrester, Linda Smith and James Waters.
Both city elections will be held Tuesday, Nov. 7. Early voting starts Oct. 16 and lasts until Friday, Nov. 3.
Ellijay’s early voting will be done at Ellijay City Hall, while its Election Day polling place will be the Gilmer County Civic Center. East Ellijay’s early and Election Day voting will both be done at East Ellijay City Hall.